Just throwing out preliminary suggestions, but Cafe 28 (Irving Park and Ravenswood) has really good food, is right next to the Irving Park brown line stop and only a few blocks away from the Ravenswood Metra stop (north line).
Like HazelNutCoffee I am not familiar with the NW area.
Just trying to get the ball rolling.
Also, I think I whooshed elanorigby.
Cafe 28 looks really yummy, but if we have any vegetarians in the mix, we’re screwed. How big is the place - are we going to overwhelm it on a Saturday night?
Another option: Firehouse Grill in Evanston. Walking distance (even for my fat ass) of the purple line and the Metra at Main. Free parking for we drivers. They have an outdoor patio if the weather’s nice, and several private rooms where we can take over without bothering other patrons or pissing off waitstaff. The food is merely adequate, but there is a full bar. There are a few vegetarian options available, including vegetarian chili and portobella sandwhiches which are actually pretty good.
Also, I’ve never seen the upstairs of Firehouse Grill full. Great idea!
Evanston sounds do-able. I’d just rather not have to take the Blue line at night, and the Metra shuts down fairly early, I think.
I just checked the Metra and El schedules: the last Metra leaves the Main street station for Chicago at 11:32 on Saturdays, and leaves the Main Street station for Kenosha at 12:55. The last Purple Line leaves Main for the Howard EL (at which you can transfer to Red going South or Yellow out to Skokie) at 2:29 AM.
And for another data point: a cab ride from my place at Howard and Western over to Truman College (Broadway and Wilson, where our last Dopefest was) during rush hour traffic costs ~$15, including tip. It should be around the same or a little less from Firehouse, if that’s where we end up.
Purple Line schedule WARNING:PDF
Evanston works great for me. Celtic Knot is my favorite bar there if we want to move on afterwards.
Hey Mooch, you probably know me as I work at the Celtic Knot! Come in on Mondays to see the Mudflapps, they are friends of mine and a lot of fun.
I’ll try to make it! No guarantees, though–finals time. :eek:
Evanston is just up the road from me. I’m in.
Holy crap! I knew your location used to be Evanston.
I’ll try and make it on a Monday - always see the ads for them.
I’m interested, if I can get there and if finances permit. Like HazelNutCoffee, public transportation is a must. I tend to prefer not metra due to the extra costs associated with it, but it’s a minor preference.
I have no clue about the NW area, and wouldn’t mind it coming down toward the Loop myself, but am probably flexible there too.
I’ll be in Washington DC. 
Maybe I’ll catch the next one.
Just giving this a bump to keep it in people’s minds.
Thanks, Boyo Jim! I am definitely still interested, but will be out of town May 15-21. Hopefully you all pick a weekend that is not that one.
So, is May 31 still looking good for people? It would work for me.
Evanston also works for me, though something along 90 out to the northwest would work a little better.
That’d be cool for me, too. Got someplace in mind?
I was just trying to keep the ball rolling with the Evanston suggestion, not close the case. 'Though I felt like I killed the thread there for a bit. Apparently, it was only pining for the fjords. 
I’m not contributing much as I tend to be slightly flakey on plans made more than a week in advance but I will make all sorts of efforts to be wherever you all choose on the day and time that you choose it.
I might be able to make it, too…will have to check for childcare coverage. Wherever is fine with me…I’m pretty mobile and centrally located.
No. I’d be just be coming in from that direction. I don’t know the area. From comments upthread, Evanston and the general direction of Northwest from the city were mentioned, but I’m really ok either way.
May 31 is great! Before the Midwest really heats up, but at least a week after the last frost…
My only difficulty is local navigation. A walk for a mile or so from a train station is no problem. Just need clear directions from whichever station.
You’ll be able to tell me by my black cowboy hat.